Lock for cross-wires.



PATENTED MAY 8, 1906.

M. S. ANDERSON. LOOK FOR CROSS WIRES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 11, 1905.

Zlmuewtoz M6: flicclera'on UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE- Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application filed August 11I 1905. Serial No. 273.791.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON S. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Manistee, in the county of Manistee and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Looks for Cross-Wires, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to a metal tie or lock, and has for its objectthe expedient and eflicient locking of cross wires or rods in themanufacture of screens, gratings, nettings, &c., and in the constructionof wire fencing by hand or by automatic machinery. While the utility ofsuch a device is particularly adapted to the construction of wirefencing where a secure fastening is desired for connecting the lateralwires with the cross-stays, such stays being preferably of heavier wirethan the laterals and made of spring-steel such as would not permit ofbeing coiled around the laterals, it is also desired to be understoodthat the tie herein described may be used in any manufacture where apractical union of cross wires or rods is required.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a simple,inexpensive, and expedient wire-fence construction by hand without theaid of skilled mechanics or of mechanical appliances other than aspecially-constructed locker and the ordinary fencing-tools. I am awarethat in some similar methods the locking is effected by crimping orbending the wires or by the use of a tool to indent a portion of themetal of the look into the longitudinal wires. It is obvious that suchcrimping, bending, or indenting would in a greater or less degree tendto weaken the metal, scale the galvanizing, and induce rust at theunion. It has been my object to overcome this difficulty, and I wouldtherefore have it understood that I do not claim such construction, butthat the look as herein described holds the wires firmly againstdisplacement, owing to the frictional contact of the parts and thetenacity of the metal. However, in the use of soft-wire laterals itwould seem best to use a diflerent means for locking, whereby the.

knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting theresult reference is to be had to the following description andaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view of the clip asstamped out of sheet metal and before bending. Fig. 2 is a perspectiveview of the clip, showing it as bent and ready for use. Fig. 3 is aperspective view of the clip after it has been locked, so as to clampthe wires. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a wire fence,showing my clip as applied so that the longitudinal slot therein is bothin a horizontal and a vertical position. Fig: 5 is a perspective Viewshowing the'manner in which wires of soft metal are bent. Fig. 6 is asectional view showing the manner of bending the clip when employed withsoft wire. Fig. 7 is a front view of two cross-wires locked by mydevice. Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the means for locking softwires. Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing the manner in which the wiresare passed through the clip. Fig. 10 is a sectional view at right anglesto the plane on which Fig. 9 was taken.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the samereference characters.

The numeral 1 designates the body of the clip, which is preferablyrectangular in shape and is provided with a longitudinal slot 3 of asuflicient length to fit around the intersecting wires. These clips canbe very readily stamped out of sheet metal and are then bent upon anaxis perpendicular to the longitudinal slot 3, so that they areapproximately U shaped, as seen in Fig. 2. In employing the device oneof the wires is placed in the slot 3, while the opposite wire is slippedbetween the arms of the U-shaped clip, so as to prevent the withdrawalof the first wire. The base of the clip is then pressed inwardthroughout its entire length, as seen at 4 in Fig. 3. This arches thesides of the clip and securely locks the wires in position. By thuspressing the base of the clips inward I am enabled to clamp the wires inposition without in any manner weakening same or injuring thegalvanizing.

In constructing fences of soft wire the style of locking shown in Figs.6 and 8 is recommended, because it is evident that such material wouldnot ofler sufficient resistance to be held firmly by friction alone. Inthis manner of locking a specially-constructed V locker is also used, bymeans of which the parallel sides of the clip are forced outwardly inopposite directions, thereby causing them to tend toward a straightline. The pressure is continued until the cross-wires are curved bytheir contact with each other and the lock, as shown, thus insuring themagainst displacement.

My invention is intended to facilitate the construction of wire fencesby hand where the longitudinal wires, stays,,and locks are shippedknocked down. The longitudinal wires are first stretched, spaced, andstapled to the posts. The locks are then fitted around the longitudinalwires and the stays passed through them. By pressing the bases of theU-shaped clips inward and arching the sides thereof, as has heretoforebeen described, the stays and longitudinal wires are securely heldtogether, or should the wires be made of soft metal the parallel sidesof the clip are bent outwardly in opposite directions and the Wires bentupon themselves and securely clam ed. It will be readily understood thatt s clip has a very wide range of usefulness, since it is adapted to belocked by either of the before-mentioned means and is thereforeequallygapplicable for wires of both hard and soft metal and also forrepairing old fences or building new barb ed-wire fences where stays areemployed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- As a newarticle of manufacture, wire-fence construction embodying intersectingcrosswires, and a metal clip for connecting said wires, said clipconsisting of a piece of sheet metal provided with a longitudinal slotin which one of the cross-wires is received, the plate being bent uponitself to form sides between Which the other of the cross-wires is received, said wires being in contact with one another, the sides of theclip aforesaid being curved in the length thereof whereby the same arecaused to engage the wire in the slot thereof with a positive frictionalor biting action, the engaging action of said clip with respect to theaforesaid wire being such as to hold the intersecting wires also inpositive frictional contact with one another.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MILTON s. ANDERSON. [a s.]

Witnesses:

A. J. P1o'rRowsKI, E. S. FOSTER.

